Kashmir’s water crisis
Baramulla springs dry up to 30 lpm, rainfall deficits hit 88% in Shopian – while Ganderbal sees 300% surge in water flow
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Jal Shakti has sounded the alarm on Kashmir’s escalating water crisis, with startling new data presented to the Lok Sabha by Minister of State Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary.
The official figures reveal a dramatic 63% reduction in Kashmir’s extractable groundwater reserves between 2020-2024, with some districts like Baramulla seeing spring flows diminish to just 25% of previous levels
A question was raised in Lok Sabha over water scarcity in Kashmir due to climate change.
As reported by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, there is no widespread water crisis in Kashmir. However, some water sources, especially springs got depleted/dried up, which resulted in shortage of drinking water in few areas being fed from these sources, Ministry of Jal Shakti informed.
However, the Government has provided potable drinking water to all inhabitants through alternate mean, the ministry said.
Further, the J&K Government has informed that in recent days, precipitation has occurred, leading to the recharge of springs/nallah sources, thereby enhancing water availability. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels throughout the country on a regional scale including Kashmir, in every year during the months of March/April/May, August, November and January.
In addition to monitoring dug wells and piezometers, CGWB also monitors six springs in the hilly areas of Kashmir.
The data indicates a decline in spring discharge in Baramulla, Srinagar, and Kulgam districts. Conversely, in Ganderbal District, an improvement in discharge levels has been observed.
As reported by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, research on glacier melt rates is carried out by various organizations, including academic institutions such as the University of Kashmir. Satellite imagery from the Department of Environment and Remote Sensing indicates that several glaciers in the region are receding.
Water being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including its conservation are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities.
As reported by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) wing of the Jal Shakti Department, Jammu & Kashmir, conducts periodic reviews to ensure an adequate and uninterrupted water supply in terms of both quality and quantity. Proactive measures are taken in anticipation of seasonal changes, and necessary steps are implemented to prepare for winter and summer challenges.
In cases of water shortages, raw water is diverted at sources and water supply schemes through the construction of stone and muthu bunds. Additionally, tanker services are deployed to affected areas, with 82 departmental tankers currently operational in the Kashmir region. More tankers have been mobilized to cater to vulnerable areas.
To ensure effective response and coordination, control rooms have been set up at the district level with dedicated helpline facilities working in close collaboration with the district administration.
In the irrigation sector, nearly 98% of irrigated areas in Kashmir depend on surface water sources. The primary impact of low precipitation is observed in lift irrigation schemes, for which various measures have been adopted to maintain functionality during periods of low water levels.
These include desilting and channelization of intake channels to facilitate water entry, installation of horizontal drought pumps at the lowest possible contour levels to maximize water collection, and extension of suction lines to improve water lifting capacity. Additionally, if required, drought pumps are installed on an emergency basis depending on the severity of the situation.
To address the long-term impacts of climate change on water resources, several initiatives have been launched under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign.
These include the rejuvenation and protection of springs through spring shed development, catchment area treatment to improve water retention, conservation and restoration of water bodies to enhance storage capacity, and promotion of rainwater harvesting to augment local water availability. These efforts are aimed at ensuring sustainable water management and enhancing resilience against climate-induced water challenges in the region.
Recent data reveals concerning trends regarding water resources in Kashmir, with multiple indicators pointing to growing scarcity across the region. The spring discharge monitoring between November 2023 and 2024 shows significant variations, with Baramulla’s Colony Bagh spring experiencing a dramatic reduction from 120 to 30.36 liters per minute, while Srinagar’s Cheshmashahi spring declined more modestly from 48 to 43.47 LPM. Kulgam’s Parigam Bala spring also diminished from 28.9 to 16.71 LPM during this period. In contrast, Ganderbal district presents a more positive picture, with Gobbal spring increasing from 600 to 720 LPM and TengporaGiraj spring surging remarkably from 1,200 to 3,600 LPM, while Lar spring maintained stable discharge levels around 19 LPM.
Groundwater monitoring from 2021 to 2024 paints a complex picture of the region’s water tables. Pulwama and Kupwara districts show relatively shallow water tables, with 50% and 29.7% of wells respectively having water within 0-2 meters of the surface in recent measurements.
However, deeper groundwater levels are becoming more prevalent, particularly in Ganderbal where all monitored wells in 2024 showed water levels between 10-20 meters below ground level. Baramulla and Kupwara demonstrate better conditions, with 73.7% and 51.4% of wells respectively maintaining water at moderate depths of 2-5 meters.
These variations highlight the uneven distribution of groundwater resources across different districts.
Rainfall patterns from 2020 to 2024 show consistent deficits across most of Kashmir, with particularly severe shortfalls in Shopian (88% below normal in 2020) and Bandipore (49% deficit in 2020). While some areas like Baramulla and Ganderbal experienced near-normal or slightly above-average rainfall in certain years, the overall trend for Kashmir Division shows persistent annual deficits ranging from 12.4% to 31.8% below historical averages. This prolonged rainfall shortage has undoubtedly contributed to the region’s water stress.
The district-wise water balance analysis presents an interesting paradox. While all districts show water storage exceeding demand by significant margins – with Kishtwar (99.09%), Kulgam (97%), and Bandipore (95.29%) showing particularly large surpluses – localized scarcity persists in areas like Srinagar (76.45% surplus) and Pulwama (83.19%). This discrepancy suggests that distribution and access issues may be as significant as absolute water availability in understanding Kashmir’s water challenges.
Groundwater availability data from 2020 to 2024 reveals alarming declines in some districts. Baramulla saw extractable groundwater resources plummet from 51,113.75 hectare-meters to just 15,441.85 Ham, while Budgam experienced an even more dramatic drop from 38,062.45 Ham to 4,765.08 Ham. Srinagar maintained more stable groundwater levels around 10,000-12,000 Ham throughout this period. Overall, the region’s total extractable groundwater resources have fallen sharply from 201,622.66 Ham in 2020 to 74,885.55 Ham in 2024 – a reduction of nearly 63% in just four years.
